Government has opened discussions with broadcasters on introducing a cost-sharing framework for Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform as authorities seek to place the country’s digital broadcasting infrastructure on a more sustainable financial footing.
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George met industry stakeholders to discuss a proposed pricing model for channel carriage on the DTT platform, part of broader efforts to resolve long-standing operational and funding challenges in the sector.
George said the government remained committed to a transparent and consultative process, emphasizing that any fees introduced would be designed in collaboration with broadcasters to ensure fairness and long-term sustainability.
The minister said the DTT infrastructure had operated for years without meaningful cost recovery, creating pressure for reforms aimed at sustaining the platform.
He described the proposals presented during the meeting as a basis for negotiations and said broadcasters would be given time to review the framework and submit recommendations.
George also signaled that the government would ultimately take policy decisions on broader structural issues, including management of shared broadcasting infrastructure and allocation of cost obligations.
He noted that the DTT platform should not yet be viewed as a profit-generating venture but rather as strategic national infrastructure requiring collective industry support.
Broadcasters welcomed the engagement but called for further consultations and greater clarity on how carriage fees and pricing structures would be determined.
Industry participants warned against any perception that decisions had already been finalized without adequate stakeholder involvement, stressing the importance of transparency and inclusiveness in shaping the framework.
They also highlighted the DTT platform’s central role in their operations, arguing that its sustainability is critical to the long-term survival of the broadcasting industry.
The discussions form part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations to finalize unresolved issues surrounding the DTT transition and strengthen the country’s digital broadcasting ecosystem.
The move comes as governments across Africa increasingly seek financially sustainable models for digital broadcasting infrastructure amid rising operational costs and changing media consumption habits driven by streaming and online platforms.
